Adorned with numerous Angel’s Trumpets (Brugmansia suaveolens 大花曼陀羅) at its entrance and along the pathway, Dawulun Fort sits atop Dawulun Mountain in the Anle District of Keelung. Recognized as a designated monument in Keelung City, the fort is connected to Lover’s Lake by a challenging brick stairway. However, the entrances to the lake and the fort are just a short 10-minute drive apart, accessible via a winding mountain road.
Watch the following video on “Explore a Historic Fort Adorned with Stunning Angel’s Trumpets”
for more interesting images.
Lover’s Lake, the only highland lake in Keelung, was formed by the convergence of several mountain streams. Surrounded by lush forests, Lover’s Lake features well-paved trails that circle both the lake and the mountain. Together, Dawulun Fort and Lover’s Lake create a perfect setting for walking, sightseeing, picnicking, and hiking.
History of Dawulun Fort
As the earliest completed fort in Keelung’s history, Dawulun Fort was initially built in 1820 to safeguard the western side of Keelung Harbor. It holds a significant place in the region’s military past. During the Qing Dynasty, military forces were stationed at the fort during key conflicts, including the First Opium War in 1840 and the Sino-French War in 1884.
Watch the following video on “Exploring the Magnificent Hiking Trails of Lover’s Lake in Taiwan” for more interesting images of Lover’s Lake.
Later, during the Japanese Colonial Period, the fort was renovated in 1900 and completed in 1902. This renovation established Dawulun Fort, along with the nearby Baimiweng Fort (白米甕堡壘) and Mushan Fort (木山堡壘), as part of a strategic network of defensive strongholds protecting the western approaches to Keelung Harbor.
Following the end of Japanese rule, the Republic of China (ROC) government took over Taiwan, and Dawulun Fort was officially decommissioned in 1957. Recognizing its historical significance, the site was designated a Grade II historic monument in 1985 and later reclassified as a National Monument in 2009.
Architecture of Dawulun Fort
Dawulun Fort was constructed in harmony with the natural topography of Dawulun Mountain and its surrounding terrain, situated at an elevation of 231 meters above sea level. The fortification system comprises five main sections: the guardhouse, barracks area, gun emplacement area, observation area, and the outer wall of the ridge fort. Today, only three barracks remain intact. These structures, constructed from red bricks and concrete, were divided into a command post, an officers’ hall, and soldiers’ dormitories based on function and size.
The shelter, the largest structure within the fort, contains three rooms. It features a 1.2-meter-thick and 1.75-meter-high red brick footwall, supported by 1-meter-thick concrete arches and covered with a 3-meter-thick layer of earth for added protection.
The northern chassis area was strategically placed on elevated ground to the north of the fort. This section included concave gun emplacements, each approximately 12 meters long and 6 meters wide, with a fan-shaped gun platform. Initially, it housed two 9 cm cannons. Similarly, the southern gun emplacement area, located on high ground to the south, consisted of a group of concave gun platforms, each equipped with two cannons.
The legend of the hidden treasure at Dawulun Fort
Because much of Dawulun Fort’s current structure was built during the Japanese colonial period, rumors once spread that the Japanese colonial government might have used the site to hide treasure before their withdrawal from Taiwan at the end of World War II. This speculation led to a series of unauthorized digs, most notably in December 2011, when four holes were excavated at the barracks site, followed by digging in the tunnel near the toilet using an excavator.
In response to the growing curiosity, the Keelung City Government commissioned a professional archaeological survey in 2003. The investigation found no evidence of any hidden treasure. Despite the findings, some enthusiasts have continued to apply for permission to excavate the site, but no treasure has ever been discovered.
Brugmansia suaveolens at Dawulun Fort
There are vibrant groves of Brugmansia suaveolens (大花曼陀羅) at Dawulun Fort. Brugmansia suaveolens, commonly known as Hindu Datura (白花曼陀羅), or Angel’s trumpet (天使喇叭), is a perennial semi-deciduous shrub belonging to the genus Brugmansia in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Native to South America, it was introduced to Taiwan in 1910. From March to December each year, the plant blooms in cycles that last approximately three days, producing large, pendulous white flowers that release a strong, apple-like scent in the early morning hours.
Thriving in warm, humid environments, Brugmansia suaveolens is highly adaptable and can often be found growing wild or along roadsides on low-altitude slopes.
Brugmansia suaveolens contains anti-acetylcholine substances. In China, the dried flowers are used as a medicinal treatment for asthma and ulcers, and are known as “foreign gold flowers” (洋金花). The flowers are used as anaesthetics, sedatives, and pupil dilators. The flowers are large, trumpet-shaped, and open downwards. They have a distinctive aroma, and some people experience dizziness when they smell them. It is not recommended to plant them at home to prevent humans and animals from accidentally ingesting the poisonous plants.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
